Great health care for every patient involves a team approach. All team members contribute in a unique way to ensure successful patient outcomes. The phlebotomist is a key member of the health care team and the team relies on the phlebotomist to obtain quality specimens. Patient diagnosis and treatment is often dependent on laboratory test results. The accuracy and reliability of these results are contingent on a quality specimen. It is easy to see how the phlebotomist directly affects the care of the patient.

Effective communication is a key component of successful phlebotomy procedures. Ignoring an error or taking inappropriate actions can put a patient at risk. As members of a professional health care team, phlebotomists should exhibit professional behaviors. Simple things, such as appropriate dress and grooming, reflect a professional image. Language and conversation should also show that you value yourself, your employer, and the patient. Work habits demonstrate to the rest of the team that you provide an invaluable service.

Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for laboratory personnel, phlebotomists, and other healthcare personnel who perform blood collections. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science and phlebotomy students. 

Learning Objectives

• Recognize and react appropriately to an adverse patient reaction during the performance of phlebotomy.
• Respond appropriately to age, cultural, and ethnic differences while performing phlebotomy procedures.
• Obtain a specimen for a blood culture in a manner that does not result in contamination.
• Explain how to obtain specimens that are appropriate for special laboratory tests.
• Understand the importance of team dynamics and how they affect quality patient care.

This course has been approved for P.A.C.E.® credit. There are no prerequisites for this course.